klisemfg Chapter 428 The Little Doctor Girl Knows How to Pamper and Flirt (Part 23)
Chapter 428 The Little Doctor Girl Knows How to Pamper and Flirt (Part 23)
In the Golden Palace, the young emperor leaned back on the dragon throne, his pale fingers pressed against his temples, looking sickly.
The court officials had long been accustomed to the emperor's demeanor. For the past five years, this frail and sickly monarch had rarely concerned himself with state affairs, and most of the time, it was Prime Minister Liu who handled them on his behalf.
"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present." Prime Minister Liu stepped forward, holding a jade tablet, his voice booming out of place in the silent hall.
The emperor slightly raised his eyes and waved his hand weakly: "My dear minister... speak..."
Liu Xiang turned to face the assembled officials, his voice righteous and stern: "The Northern Border General, Si Di, has amassed power and is manipulating the hearts of the people. The people of the thirteen border villages know only of the general, not of His Majesty! Furthermore, he has colluded with the sorceress Ji Xiaosong to cultivate demonic wheat using sorcery, intending to control the people's food supply! I request that Si Di be immediately recalled and punished!"
There was an uproar in the court.
The senior officials exchanged glances, but none of them dared to voice their opposition.
The emperor coughed violently, and the eunuch beside him quickly handed him a handkerchief.
Once the coughing subsided, the emperor asked weakly, "General Si... is it really so?"
"Absolutely true!" Prime Minister Liu took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve. "This is a report from our border spies. The Emperor has allowed a sorceress to use magic, causing the wheat to ripen prematurely. The people, ignorant and foolish, worship her as a god. If this continues, the nation will cease to exist, Your Majesty!"
The emperor took the bamboo slip with trembling hands. Before he could finish reading it, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.
"Report—Urgent news of victory from the northern border!"
A weary messenger knelt before the hall, holding a scroll of documents tied with red silk.
The eunuch quickly took it and presented it.
The emperor unfolded the document and a blush suddenly appeared on his previously sickly face: "The Emperor reports... a bumper harvest of dryland wheat in the northern border, yielding more than three bushels per mu... thirteen villages on the border have jointly submitted a petition requesting commendation for General Si and his wife..."
Liu Xiang's expression changed drastically: "Your Majesty! This is clearly evidence that the Emperor is trying to win people's hearts!"
“Prime Minister Liu, you are mistaken.” A clear voice came from outside the hall.
The ministers turned around and saw the Emperor striding in, dressed in full military attire, his armor still bearing the marks of the northern winds and frosts.
He knelt on one knee before the emperor: "Your subject Si Di has been summoned back to the capital to report."
The emperor dropped the handkerchief in his hand: "My dear minister... what's wrong with you all of a sudden..."
The Emperor raised his head, his sharp gaze piercing Liu Xiang: "If I do not return, wouldn't that confirm the slander that Liu Xiang is 'using his military power for personal gain'?"
He then took out a thick stack of silk cloth from his bosom. “This is a joint petition signed by 7,638 households from 13 villages on the border. Your Majesty, please read it.”
The eunuch unfolded the petition, which was ten feet long and covered with countless handprints.
"This..." The emperor seemed startled and shrank back.
Liu Xiang shouted sternly, "Your Majesty! You coerced the people to put their fingerprints on your papers, what is your punishment!"
Emperor Si sneered: "Prime Minister Liu sent men to burn down the wheat fields, nearly killing dozens of people. What crime should he be charged with?"
He suddenly turned around and ripped off the mask of one of the guards in the hall, revealing him to be one of the men in black who had escaped that night!
Chaos erupted in the imperial court.
The man in black turned to flee, but Si Di kicked him to his knees.
"Your Majesty is wise," the Emperor said, clasping his hands in a fist salute. "This man has confessed that he was instructed by Chancellor Liu. I have both witnesses and physical evidence."
Liu Xiang's face turned ashen, and he pointed at Si Di: "You...you're spouting nonsense!"
The emperor, who had been sickly, suddenly slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his voice surprisingly loud: "Enough!"
The entire court was so shocked that they all knelt down.
The emperor coughed violently a few times, regaining his weak appearance, and said softly, "Prime Minister Liu... you have disappointed me greatly..."
Liu Xiang knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty! I have been wronged!"
The emperor waved his hand, seemingly utterly exhausted: "Prime Minister Liu... reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors... you are not allowed to attend court for three months... court adjourned..."
A hint of doubt flashed in the Emperor's eyes, but he quickly bowed his head and accepted the order: "Your subject takes his leave."
*
After the court session, Prime Minister Liu hurriedly passed through the secret passage of the palace and arrived at a secluded warm pavilion.
Pushing open the door, one sees the emperor, who should be resting in bed, standing by the window with his back straight, showing no signs of illness whatsoever.
“Your Majesty,” Prime Minister Liu said, wiping his sweat, “Emperor Si is more difficult to deal with than we imagined. I never expected him to come directly to court with a petition.”
The emperor turned around, his eyes sharp as an eagle's: "Useless! I ordered you to force him to rebel and lose the people's support, not to give him leverage against you!"
Liu Xiang knelt on the ground: "This old minister deserves to die... but the Emperor's sudden return to the capital was truly unexpected..."
The emperor sneered: "If he doesn't come back, wouldn't that confirm his crime of holding military power? The Si family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, and this kid is much smarter than his father."
"Then now..."
"Now?" The emperor toyed with a jade seal. "Continue with your plan. How are the preparations for troop deployment going?"
Liu Xiang looked up and said, "I have secretly ordered General Zhao to take over the garrison troops in the three surrounding prefectures of the northern border. We are just waiting for His Majesty's decree."
"Very well." The emperor narrowed his eyes. "Isn't Emperor Si deeply loved by the people? I'll let him be proud for a while longer. When the people worship him like a god..."
The jade seal shattered in his palm, “...and let him fall from his pedestal.”
A ruthless glint flashed in Liu Xiang's eyes: "This old minister understands. But... in court today..."
The emperor's expression suddenly changed, reverting to his sickly demeanor, and he said softly, "My dear minister... I have no choice but to put on a show... You will have to bear with it for a few days..."
He suddenly raised his voice, "Guards! Escort Prime Minister Liu back to his residence!"
Upon hearing the commotion, the eunuchs outside entered and respectfully helped Prime Minister Liu leave.
After Liu Xiang left, the emperor walked to a bronze mirror, looked at his pale face in the mirror, and suddenly revealed a strange smile: "Emperor Si, Emperor Si... you think you've won a game?"
*
Emperor Si rushed to the capital overnight to attend court today.
After delivering the petition and witnesses, Emperor Si did not stay at the General's Mansion, but instead rushed back to the border.
The country is relatively small, so it only takes two days to get there.
Ji Xiaosong was pregnant, and he couldn't bear to leave her alone at the border.
After returning to the military camp and resting for a few days, Si Di stood in front of the sand table as usual, his brows furrowed.
"General," the lieutenant whispered, "our scouts report that Liu Wuyan has secretly taken over the garrisons in the surrounding three prefectures, with a total force of no less than 100,000."
The Emperor tapped his fingers on the edge of the sand table: "His Majesty is about to take action against me."
The curtain was lifted, and Ji Xiaosong walked in carrying a teacup.
Her pregnancy was already quite obvious at this point, but she still moved with a light and agile movements.
"My husband, have some ginseng tea."
Si Di quickly took it and helped her sit down: "You should rest more."
Ji Xiaosong shook his head and looked at the sand table: "Is the imperial court planning to harm us?"
The Emperor said in a deep voice, "It's worse than I imagined. I suspect... that His Majesty is not as sickly as he appears."
Ji Xiaosong's pupils contracted slightly: "You mean..."
"The way he slammed his fist on the table in court today was nothing like that of someone who had been ill for a long time."
A cold glint flashed in Si Di's eyes. "Moreover, the timing of Liu Xiang's impeachment of me was too coincidental. I had just received the news of a bumper harvest when he launched his attack... as if it had been premeditated."
Ji Xiaosong held her husband's hand: "Then we..."
Si Di suddenly knelt down on one knee, pressed his ear to her swollen belly, and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I won't let anything happen to you and the child."
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent: "Report! The Imperial Envoy has arrived!"
Si Di and his wife exchanged a glance, then Si Di dressed up and went out to greet them.
A procession of ceremonial guards slowly entered the camp, the leading imperial envoy beaming with smiles: "General Si! His Majesty has heard of the great harvest in the north and has specially ordered me to come and reward the troops!"
The Emperor bowed with clasped hands and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."
The imperial envoy's gaze swept over Ji Xiaosong's belly, and his smile deepened: "Madam looks very well. His Majesty specifically instructed me to bring the imperial physician to examine Madam's pulse."
Ji Xiaosong bowed slightly: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
That night, a grand banquet was held in the military camp.
After several rounds of drinks, the imperial envoy, tipsy, grabbed the emperor's hand and said, "General, His Majesty often says... of all the civil and military officials... you are the most loyal..."
The Emperor smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I am unworthy of such praise."
The imperial envoy lowered his voice: "Actually... His Majesty has always known that Prime Minister Liu... hiccup... is no good... and has been waiting for... General, you... to share his burdens..."